Leí una historia muy triste ayer acerca de una enfermera que fue "forzada" a tomar parte en un aborto, aunque ella reclamara creer que ese aborto era un error.

Esta historia era triste por dos razones. Primero, por supuesto, era  triste porque un bebé fue asesinado. Segundo, era triste porque, aunque la enfermera reclamó  creer que ese aborto era un error, ella también dijo que  fue "forzada" a participar porque si ella no hubiera participado quizás hubiera sufrido consecuencias en su lugar de empleo.

Yo ahora oro por esa enfermera—y por todo el resto de nosotros también—que ella/nosotros nos demos cuenta de que nosotros no podemos ser "forzados" a ceder nuestras creencias bajo amenaza de consecuencias financieras. Verdaderamente, nunca es fácil  actuar sobre nuestra fe cuando implica la posibilidad muy segura de perder nuestro sustento, nuestro hogar, nuestros seres queridos—aún nuestras vidas. Pero Jesús nunca nos prometió que sería fácil, ¿lo hizo Él? De hecho, Él nos prometió pruebas, tribulación, y sufrimiento si escogimos seguirLo, ya que las pruebas, la tribulación, y el sufrimiento fueron los sellos del sendero que Él anduvo para nosotros. Y cuando nuestro propio sendero llega a ser más rocoso y más escarpado y más traicionero, nosotros seremos visitados a hacer otra elección: ¿Actuaremos nosotros como decimos que creemos, o abandonaremos nosotros nuestra fe por la comodidad y la aceptabilidad?

El salmista declaró que él serviría más bien como un portero en casa de Dios que vivir en el lujo con los que sirven al príncipe de la oscuridad. ¿Que tal nosotros, cristianos en el siglo XXI, que—en la mayor parte—hemos disfrutado de una vida relativamente pacífica y próspera? ¿Podemos proclamar también nosotros que escogeríamos más bien una vida de servicio a Dios, a dondequiera que quizás se dirija y por difícil que quizás resulte, a quedarse cómodo cediendo con las órdenes de la maldad?

Cuando el tiempo se pone corto y los días más malos, yo creo que nosotros nos encontraremos  más a menudo tener que tomar esa elección. ¡Por lo consiguiente cuándo eso suceda, seamos fieles a actuar con lo que decimos que creemos!

           

           

 

            I read a very sad story yesterday about a nurse who was “forced” to participate in an abortion, even though she claimed to believe that abortion was wrong.

            This story was sad for two reasons. First, of course, it was sad because a baby was murdered. Second, it was sad because, though the nurse claimed to believe that abortion was wrong, she also claimed she was “forced” to participate because if she didn’t she might suffer consequences at her place of employment.

            I am now praying for that nurse—and for all the rest of us as well—that she/we will realize we cannot be “forced” to compromise our beliefs under threat of financial consequences. True, it is never easy to act on our faith when it involves the very real possibility of losing our livelihood, our home, our loved ones—even our very lives. But Jesus never promised us easy, did He? In fact, He promised us trials, tribulation, and suffering if we chose to follow Him, since trials, tribulation, and suffering were the hallmarks of the path He walked for us. And as our own path becomes rockier and steeper and more treacherous, we will be called on to make another choice: Will we act on what we say we believe, or will we abandon our faith for comfort and acceptability?

            The psalmist declared that he would rather serve as a doorkeeper in the house of God than to live in luxury with those who serve the prince of darkness. How about us, Christians in the 21^st century, who—for the most part—have enjoyed a relatively peaceful and prosperous life? Can we too proclaim that we would rather choose a life of service to God, wherever that might lead and however difficult it might prove to be, to remaining comfortable by compromising with the commands of wickedness?

            As the time grows short and the days more evil, I believe we will find ourselves called upon more often to make that choice. When that happens, may we be found faithful to act accordingly with what we say we believe!

 

            Most of us at some time in our lives have heard someone say, “I’ve got good news and bad news.” The Scriptures are the epitome of that saying, aren’t they? I believe one of the reasons the gospel is referred to as the “Good News” is that we’re so inundated with bad news and are desperately looking for relief! But the bad news we hear from the media each day scarcely comes close to the bad news we can find in the Bible.

            Hebrews 11 is the perfect example. In that chapter we learn that as followers of Jesus we can expect to be persecuted and suffer, even as the saints of old, who were mocked, scourged, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, tempted, slain, wandered in the wilderness, afflicted, and tormented. And that doesn’t even begin to describe what Jesus Himself endured for us, and what Romans 8:17 and countless other verses promise that we too may suffer in His name!

            Yes, there is a lot of bad news, but we can sum it up like this: The world is NOT fair, the devil hates us and wants to destroy us and never takes a vacation, and the situation will probably get worse before it gets better.

            And that’s where the Good News comes in, beloved. Though the world and the devil and all his demon hordes may align themselves against us (and they have!), GOD IS FOR US! Romans 8:17 therefore confidently declares, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” That verse isn’t promising that nothing or no one will come against us, but rather, because God stands with us and for us and even beneath us, holding us up, not one of the enemies who comes against us can defeat us! Though they may inflict temporary pain and suffering and torment—and even take our very lives—ultimately they lose, and we win.

            And that, my friends, is the Good News! The One who stands with us, who fights for us, who even died for us to ensure that the enemies who hate us can never triumph over us, has determined that we are to be “more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). In fact, verses 38-39 continue with this amazing promise, which we would all do well to memorize:

 

 

            As we continue to “fight the good fight,” let’s remember that the One who fights for us has already secured the victory and has promised that absolutely nothing can separate us from His great love. And that, beloved, is the best news anyone can ever hear!

Como Cristianos no es nada raro pensar que nosotros trabajamos mano a mano con el Creador, pero ¿nos detenemos alguna vez a  pensar que nosotros también trabajamos conjuntamente con la creación? El salmo 19 nos dice que son los cielos y la tierra, el sol y la luna y las estrellas los que proclaman la verdad y la majestad del poder de Dios y la naturaleza.

Este salmo en particular es especialmente significativo para mí, porque es el primer capítulo en la Biblia que memoricé en su totalidad. Fue en julio de 1974, y yo había vuelto a renacer hacían solamente dos días enteros cuando asistí a la pequeña iglesia Asamblea de Dios que quedaba a la vuelta de donde yo vivía. También llegué temprano al servicio, pero un  bondadoso señor  me dirigió a la clase adulta de la escuela dominical que acaba de comenzar. Me senté en una silla atrás, asombrada y entusiasmada de saber que existía tal cosa como una escuela dominical para adultos. El maestro dirigía una discusión en el Salmo 19, y yo escuchaba con mi corazón, absorbiendo cada detalle. Después, cuándo me regresé a casa ese día, decidí cometer ese salmo a la memoria. Cuando regresé al siguiente domingo a la iglesia,  pude recitar cada palabra de ese  increíblemente hermoso pasaje de la Escritura.

Pero como muchos de ustedes saben, la Palabra de Dios está viva. Podemos memorizar y podemos estudiar y podemos meditar en cualquier versículo o sección de versículos hasta que nosotros lo sepamos mejor que saber nuestro propio nombre. Y después, unos días o unas semanas o meses o aún años más tarde,  lo leemos otra vez y vemos algo nuevo y fresco. Eso es lo que me sucedió a mí esta mañana. Leí el Salmo 19, llenándome en la fluidez y el poder de Sus palabras, y de repente  me di cuenta de que yo, como alguien que ha sido llamada a "escribir la visión…y hacerlo sencillamente," trabajaba mano a mano con la creación del Creador "declarando la gloria de Dios" para mostrar Su obra. ¡Qué revelación más impresionante! Y responsabilidad tan humilde.

Que esa gran verdad nos de una fresca perspectiva hoy, mientras realizamos la obra que Él nos ha cometido a nosotros y meditemos en el hecho de que es esa misma creación la que nos va a animar en  la escena final…

 

 

            Though I had picked up a few verses of scripture along the way, because I wasn’t raised in a Christian home I had never spent any actual time studying or memorizing the Bible. In fact, I often confused Bible verses with other familiar sayings and axioms. (I honestly thought “cleanliness is next to godliness” was in the Bible!)

            When I became a believer on July 5, 1974, however, I set out on a quest to learn about this bestselling book of all time, authored by the Creator Himself. The very first chapter I studied and memorized was Psalm 19 because that’s what was being discussed in my first-ever adult Sunday school class. I was awestruck at the majesty of the words, as well as their far-reaching implications. If the heavens really do declare the glory of God, then mankind is most certainly without excuse for not serving Him. What a mind-blowing revelation that was after spending twenty-six years ignoring the One who held my very life in His hands!

            Even now I consider how many of my friends and family members are racing toward eternity without having given a thought to the Judge of the universe, before whom they will soon stand to give an account. Will they be asked to justify their actions, to explain their sins, to show that their “good deeds” have outweighed the bad? I don’t believe so. But I do believe they will have to answer for why they rejected the One whose glory is declared in the heavens and who paid the supreme price to extend the offer of forgiveness and restored relationship to any who would receive it.

            And for that question, sadly, there will be no answer, no excuse, no second chance.

            Today, when we look into the heavens and see God’s glory openly declared, let’s pray together that others around us will also look heavenward and catch a glimpse of that same glory—in the skies, yes, but also in our lives. Let’s pray too that they will then feel drawn to come to us and ask about the One whose glory shines through us. For God didn’t extend His heavenly glory so we might keep it to ourselves, but rather that we might share it with everyone whose heart is being drawn by the Father.

            May we ever declare His glory, even as the heavens above us!